16 Months

Pictures from the Aquarium:

"Kyra, do you see all the fishies?"

I think the girls had the most fun splashing around at this exhibit

Family photo

Danger Monkey:

Natasha turned 16 months last Sunday and we took her to the Aquarium of the Pacific for the first time (mom and dad's first time too). We met up with the Tippers since they are members and had free passes for two guests... thanks again! Natasha had a great time with Kyra running around and seeing all the fishies. But, I think I had the best of time touching all the sting rays and small sharks.

Besides chatting chatting chatting, this 16 month old is starting to put her skills to the test. As you can see, she is starting to become a little bit of a dare devil. And it is not just at home. Natasha loves climbing all over the jungle gyms at the park, sliding down the slides by herself and walking straight into the water at the water park... might be time for some swim lessons.

Natasha is still eating well, sleeping great and now loves taking baths again... yay! She is also completely weaned and she (and mommy) are doing great. Natasha will still sign milk, but now it is for her sippy cup of milk instead of the breast. Zac and Natasha had a great weekend together while I was in Vegas celebrating my friend, Joliene's bachelorette party. I will admit that it was hard for me to get out of the car at the airport, but once I was there with my girlfriends I was able to relax and have fun. I knew Natasha was going to be fine with Zac and I don't think she even knew I was gone for two days. I definitely looked forward to our phone calls before her bedtime. It just melted my heart to hear her on the phone trying to talk to me. All in all, I am glad I went away and that we all survived the weekend.

Natasha's social calendar is still full of fun with music class, story time, play dates at the park and swimming with friends. It definitely keeps us busy and makes the week go by fast so more fun is had with dada on the weekends. We also have a Yo Gabba Gabba addict on our hands. She loves this show and asks to watch it morning, noon and night. Natasha will actually hand us the remote and press her chin down on her chest and say "Gabba Gabba." It really is super cute to see. At least we can lure her away from the tv with other activities and we don't need to schedule an intervention quite yet.

Thanks for checking in on our little monkey (aka danger monkey)!

The Words I Know

I've got a lot to say these days, so here is a video of some of the words I know.

My new favorite word is "Hi" and I like to say it over and over again to people (especially people at the grocery store) until they say it back to me. Here is a complete list of the words I know:

• Hi
• Bye
• Dog
• Ball
• Bird
• Water
• Car
• Mama
• Dada
• Cheese
• Hat
• Down
• Swing
• Tasha
• Shoes
• Baby
• Book
• No (but I don't know the meaning of this word yet)
• Gabba Gabba (I push my chin down on my chest and say this for Yo Gabba Gabba)
• Tree, Teeth and Three (all sound the same, but I know the difference)

And I am starting to put words together. For example, "Dada Bye" or "Dada Car"

My parents have already been warned that I will be a talker!

xoxo,
Natasha

Presenting... Princess Natasha

Our beautiful Princess

Mama and Natasha

Sleeping Beauty has arrived

Natasha is checking it all out

It's cooler inside

Princess Tia and Princess Natasha

Natasha with both birthday girls

Happy Birthday Tia and Kiana

All the princesses with Sleeping Beauty

Natasha attended her first Princess party yesterday. Her cousins, Tia and Kiana turned four and wanted a girls only Princess party. Natasha was lucky enough to be included with the big girls. We borrowed the dress and fairy wings from Natasha's BFF, Kyra... thank you, Kyra (that's what best friends are for)! Natasha had a lot of fun following around the girls and then playing with all of Tia and Kiana's toys in their playroom. Sleeping Beauty made an appearance and played games and also did face paint for all the princesses (except Natasha). I didn't think she would sit still long enough... okay (let's be real), I didn't want to have to wipe it all off before her nap nor did I want it to smear on her crib sheet. However, I was very proud of Natasha for wearing the wings and her headband the entire time we were there... she must like being a princess!

Happy 4th of July

"I'm ready for the party"

Mama and Natasha

Playing with the ice

Dada and Natasha

The hostess for our 3rd of July party

"Oh look, it's my BFF, Kyra"

Two very festive and smiley girls!

Kyra loved the bounce house this time... Natasha was still unsure

Our little cutie pie

Jakey and Kyra

Yummy!

5K Ladera Race on 4th of July

Another cute outfit

"CHEESE"

Lounging

Relaxing with dada

Water Park fun on the 4th!

We hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July weekend as much as we did! Our weekend started off with dinner at Uncle Matt and Auntie Lizzy's house on Saturday night. They made delicious pulled pork sliders and we had ice cream sundaes for dessert. Natasha got to stay up late that night since she was having too much fun entertaining us all. She loves being the center of attention and she also loves playing with Cooper (although I think Cooper was ready for her to leave his house).

The next day we had a 3rd of July BBQ with our family and friends. The weather was beautiful and once again we ate too much. We had hot dogs and sausages, appetizers and lots of tasty desserts, especially the cake pops (it's like crack on a stick - not that I know what crack is like)! Natasha got to play with her BFF, Kyra again plus her pals, Jack, Jakey and Maggie came too. It was so much fun watching the kids play together and run around everywhere. They sure did have a good time and hopefully their parents did too. Later in the evening we lit the fire pit to roast marshmallows for s'mores. We are so happy that our friends and family were able to come and celebrate the 4th a day early and make some yummy treats!

After all that eating, I don't know what I was thinking running a 5K race on the 4th! But it felt great and I was pretty proud of myself for doing it. I think I did pretty well considering I was pushing Natasha in the jogging stroller and it was so hot already in Ladera at 8:30 in the morning. It was good practice for the 5K I will be running in two weeks... although it is a Munchathon, so it is an obstacle course with food stations... more for fun than an actual race! After the 5K we all had a lazy early afternoon before heading over to the Water Park with Grandma Lou. Natasha was still a little dazed from all the festivities over the weekend, so she wasn't as excited about the water park. We headed home for dinner and was going to leave it up to Natasha's mood as to whether or not we were going to watch the fireworks later in the evening. But by 7:30, our little girl started rubbing her eyes and wanting to be held more, so it was definitely time to call it a night. I was hoping to see some fireworks from out backyard, but I only saw the flashes in the sky. Maybe next year Natasha will be able to stay up past nine. All in all, it was a great weekend.